76,000 lighthouses shine in interactive atlas

More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. While the earliest lighthouses were little more than large bonfires on hilltops, their underlying principle has always been the same for thousands of years. These towering coastal sentinels have helped sailors from around the world navigate vast oceans, avoid dangerous shoals, and sometimes simply find their way home. However, it's sometimes difficult to comprehend just how crucial the buildings remain for maritime crews--but one fascinating (and frequently hypnotic) online mapping project vividly illustrates humanity's ongoing reliance on lighthouses. Aaron Becker Mapped.earth is an all-things-geospatial website from digital analyst Aaron Becker monitoring winds, rainfall, UV index, and more.